Peach tree named &#39;sugarpeach ii&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a peach tree,  Prunus persica , and more particularly to a new and distinct variety characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the latter part of June, with first picking on Jun. 20, 2005. The fruit is very large in size, sub-acid and sweet in flavor, globose in shape, clingstone in type, firm in texture, yellow with some red streaking in flesh color, and full dark red in skin color. The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘Coral Princess’ white flesh peach as the selected seed parent and an unnamed white flesh nectarine as the selected pollen parent.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Prunus persica.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SUGARPEACH II’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, theinventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum,apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present invention relatesto a new and distinct variety of peach tree, which has been denominatedvarietally as ‘SUGARPEACH II’. The present variety was hybridized by mein 1997, grown as a seedling on its own root in my greenhouse, andtransplanted to a cultivated area of my experimental orchard at BradfordFarms near Le Grand, Calif. in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley).

The variety was developed as a first generation cross using ‘CoralPrincess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,199) white flesh peach as the selectedseed parent and an unnamed white flesh nectarine (unpatented) as theselected pollen parent. A single tree from the stated cross was selectedas the claimed variety. Subsequent to origination of the present varietyof nectarine tree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting inthe experimental orchard described above, and such reproduction of plantand fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in allrespects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety wascompatible and true to type.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, ‘CoralPrincess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,199) white flesh peach, by producingfruit that matures in mid to late June and that is globose in shape,firm in texture, and sub-acid in flavor, but differs significantlytherefrom by producing fruit that is yellow in flesh color instead ofwhite, a darker and fuller red in skin color, and larger in size.

The present variety is most similar to ‘Spring Candy’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 14,677) peach by producing peaches that are yellow with some redbleeding in flesh color, sub-acid in flavor, globose in shape, and firmin texture, but is distinguished therefrom by producing peaches that aresignificantly larger in size and that are clingstone rather thanfreestone.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present variety is characterized by a large size,vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. Thefruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the latterpart of June, with first picking on Jun. 20, 2005. The fruit isuniformly large in size, sub-acid and sweet in flavor, globose in shape,clingstone in type, firm in texture, yellow with some red streaking inflesh color, and full dark red in skin color.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided transversely to the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone,two mature leaves, a blossom in full bloom in the upper inset, and anarray of flowers and buds in varying stages in the lower inset.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), California, and was developed at thestate of firm ripe on Jun. 24, 2005, on the original tree during itseighth growing season. All major color code designations are byreference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau ofStandards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

-   Tree:-   Size: Large, reaching a height of 11′ [3.35 m.] and a spread of 11′    [3.35 m.] after eight growing seasons utilizing typical dormant    pruning.-   Vigor: Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and    fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of surplus    top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant should be grown    on a standard commercial rootstock for production purposes.-   Growth: Spreading and dense.-   Form: Original tree was trained by pruning to be vase formed.-   Hardiness: Hardy with respect to central California winters.-   Heat tolerance: Observed to perform adequately in typical central    California climatic conditions, which typically include extended    periods of heat.-   Drought tolerance: Variety is developed for commercial orchards and    requires regular irrigation.-   Production: Productive, thinning necessary.-   Fertility: Self-fertile.-   Bearing: Regular bearer with no alternate bearing yet observed.-   Approximate chilling requirement.—550 hours.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium, with a maximum diameter of 4⅝″ [118 mm.] after            the eighth growing season.        -   Texture.—Shaggy.        -   Bark color.—Grayish brown [61. gy.Br] with Dark reddish            brown [44. d.rBr] variegation.        -   Lenticels.—Average Number Per Square Inch: 12. Color: Dark            orange yellow [72. d.OY]. Size: ⅛″ [3.2 mm.] to ⅜″ [9.5            mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped to elongated.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Diameter of main scaffold is 2¾″ [70 mm.] measured 12″            above the crotch, diameter of limb is 2″ [51 mm.] measured            12″ above the first fork.        -   Texture.—Smooth on 1st year wood, increasing roughness with            age.        -   Color.—1st Year Wood Topside: Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st            Year Wood Underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG].            Older Wood: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].        -   Lenticels.—Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 30. Color:            Dark orange yellow [72. d.OY]. Size: 1/32″ [0.8 mm.] to ⅛″            [3.2 mm.]. Shape: Eye-shaped to elongated.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Medium. Average Length: 5¾″ [146 mm.]. Average width:            1¾″ [44 mm.].        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Form.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Acute, with an average base angle of 80 degrees.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG].            Ventral Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Venation.—Pinnately net veined.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. Average Thickness:            1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color: Brilliant yellow green [116.            brill.YG].        -   Stipules.—Number: 2 to 6 per growing tip. Average Length: ¼″            [6.4 mm.]. Color: Light yellow green [119. l.YG] when young,            Moderate reddish brown [43. m.rBr] when older.        -   Glands.—Number: 2 to 5 per leaf. Position: Usually            alternately positioned on petiole and base of leaf blade.            Size: Small. Form: Globose. Color: Pale yellow green [121.            p.YG] when young becoming Grayish reddish brown [46. gy.rBr]            with age.        -   Leaf buds.—Medium size, pointed.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Hardiness.—Hardy, with respect to central California            winters.        -   Diameter.—Typically 5/16″ [7.9 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Length.—Typically ½″ [12.7 mm.] 1 week before bloom.        -   Form.—Not appressed.        -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Light purplish pink [249. l.pPk].-   Flowers: Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single pistil,    typically thirty or more stamens, five sepals and petal locations    alternately positioned.    -   -   Type.—Showy, large.        -   Average flower diameter.—1⅞″ [47.6 mm.].        -   Number of petals.—Mostly five, with six very common.        -   Petal shape.—Circular to oval.        -   Petal margin.—Somewhat wavy.        -   Average petal diameter.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].        -   Average petal length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal base.—Irregular.        -   Petal color.—Pale pink [7. p.Pk] toward the apex, Moderate            purplish pink [250. m.pPk] toward the base.        -   Anther color.—Dark red [16. d.R] over Light Yellow [86. l.Y]            centers at bloom onset.        -   Stigma color.—Light greenish yellow [101. l.gY].        -   Sepal color.—Dark purplish red [259. d.pR].        -   Sepal length.—¼″ [6 mm.].        -   Sepal width.— 3/16″ [5 mm.].        -   Average pistil length.— 11/16″ [17.5 mm.].        -   Average stamen length.—⅝″ [15.9 mm.].        -   Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Blooming period.—Medium compared with other varieties.        -   Onset of bloom.—One percent on Feb. 17, 2005.        -   Date of full bloom.—Feb. 26, 2005.        -   Duration of bloom.—One to two weeks, dependent on ambient            temperature.        -   Number per cluster.—1 to 3 with single flowers most common.-   Fruit:-   Maturity when described: Firm ripe, Jun. 24, 2005.-   Date of first picking: Jun. 20, 2005.-   Date of last picking: Jun. 30, 2005.-   Size: Uniform, large.    -   -   Average diameter axially.—3 5/16″ [84.1 mm.].        -   Average diameter across suture plane.—3¼″ [82.6 mm.].        -   Average diameter across cheek plane.—3¼″ [82.6 mm.].        -   Typical weight.—10.4 ounces [295 grams].-   Form: Uniform, mostly symmetrical, globose.    -   -   Longitudinal section form.—Circular to oval.        -   Axial view form.—Circular.-   Suture: A shallow groove extending from the stem cavity to beyond    the pistil point, sharper toward both the base and apex with a    marked depression beyond the pistil point and some slight stitching    along the side.-   Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped stronger toward the apex.-   Lips: Mostly equal, but some unequal with a hump on one side.-   Cavity: Flaring, elongated in the suture plane, suture showing on    both sides, Light yellow [86. l.Y] stem markings typical.    -   -   Depth.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].        -   Breadth.—1 3/16″ [30.2 mm.].-   Base: Truncate.-   Apex: Rounded with some slightly mammiform.-   Pistil point: Mostly apical, typically 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] in length,    usually indented within the suture.-   Stem: Large.    -   -   Average length.— 7/16″ [11.1 mm.].        -   Average width.— 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Texture.—Medium.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.        -   Astringency.—Nonastringent.        -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.        -   Color.—Primarily Very deep red [14. v.deep R] mottled over a            Moderate red orange [37. m.rO] background.-   Down: Moderate, short in length, does not roll up when rubbed.-   Flesh:    -   -   Color.—Brilliant Yellow [83. brill.Y] with sporadic Deep red            [13. deep R] flecking.        -   Surface of pit cavity.—Strong pink [2. s.Pk] fibers breaking            when twisted from the stone.        -   Amygdalin.—Scarce.        -   Juice.—Abundant, rich.        -   Texture.—Firm, crisp and meaty.        -   Fibers.—Abundant, fine.        -   Ripens.—Slightly earlier toward the apex and along the            suture.        -   Flavor.—Mild and sub-acid, typically 15 brix.        -   Aroma.—Very slight.        -   Eating quality.—Very good.-   Stone:-   Type: Clingstone.-   Form: Oval.-   Hilum: Narrow and oblong.-   Base: Straight.-   Apex: Acute, with an average base angle of 80 degrees.-   Sides: Equal.-   Surface: Irregularly furrowed along the sides becoming mostly    horizontal ridges toward the apex, pitted toward base.-   Ridges: Jagged toward the base.-   External color: Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].-   Pit wall color when cracked: Moderate yellowish brown [77. m.yBr].-   Cavity surface color: Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].-   Average pit wall thickness.— 5/16″ [7.9 mm.].-   Average width.—1 1/16″ [27.0 mm.].-   Average length.—1½″ [38.1 mm.].-   Average breadth.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].-   Tendency to split: Moderate in 2005.-   Kernel:    -   -   Form.—Oval.        -   Pellicle color.—Deep yellowish brown [75. deep yBr].        -   Skin color.—Pale yellow [89. p.Y] when first cracked.        -   Vein color.—Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].        -   Taste.—Bitter.        -   Viable.—Yes.        -   Average width.— 7/16″ [11.1 m.].        -   Average length.— 13/16″ [20.6 mm.].        -   Amygdalin.—Abundant.-   Use:-   Market: Fresh market and long distance shipping.-   Keeping quality: Good. Fruit quality observed to remain in good    condition after 17 days in standard cold room at 36° Fahrenheit [2°    Celsius].-   Shipping quality: Good.-   Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.-   Other notes: Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the    described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le    Grand, Calif., in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is    to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur    when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different    soil types, and/or varying cultural practices.

1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially asillustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘Spring Candy’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,677) peach by producing peaches that are yellow withsome red bleeding in flesh color, sub-acid in flavor, globose in shape,and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom by producing peachesthat are significantly larger in size and that are clingstone ratherthan freestone.